A testing time

We're entering a period of seemingly endless tests. On top of the already daily blood tests, today Vicki will have an ultrasound test on her liver. Tomorrow she will have an echo test on her heart. This week, or early next week she'll have a bone marrow test, and a lumber puncture. All of these are routine except today's liver scan. Vicki's most recent blood tests have revealed some anomalies in her liver function. This is to be expected as part of her chemotherapy, but needs to be checked out just in case.

Vicki remains quite bright and positive, and of course is frustrated to be still in hospital. Her consultant confirmed that when she does get home it will be for 5 days, not a week as we'd hoped, but this of course is better than being in hospital. Her counts are slowly rising, but aren't high enough for her to be allowed home just yet.

The more observant of you may have notice that there is now a donate button on the blog. Please help all you can by bringing this to the attention of as many people as possible. Every donation will directly help Vicki. The purpose is two fold. It's to raise money to pay for petrol and car parking, as the cost of this is starting to bite. It's also to ensure that Vicki has an amazing Christmas, so please give generously and spread the word. It's hard to make this direct appeal, but necessity has forced me to the begging bowl as it's fair to say that our efforts to garner attention through the media have yielded us precious little even though we were promised it would. We had a fabulous donation that came as a direct result of the local media, but since going national nearly a month ago, money has been less than forthcoming. With Christmas coming, it's important to highlight that the strains of Vicki's illness go way beyond how it affects her directly. It would be much easier of course if Vicki was being treated locally, but NHS provision in Northamptonshire is sadly lacking.